Easter Monday –
Easter Monday is the day after Easter Sunday and is a holiday in some countries. Easter Monday in the Western Christian liturgical calendar is the second day of Eastertide and analogously in the Byzantine Rite is the second day of Bright Week. Formerly, the post-Easter festivities involved a week of secular celebration, but in many places this was reduced to one day in the 19th century. Events include egg rolling competitions and, in predominantly Roman Catholic countries, dousing other people with water which traditionally had been blessed with holy water the day before at Easter Sunday Mass and carried home to bless the house and food.
Easter Sunday –
The real meaning of Easter, is the Resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. To Christians, it is the most special day of the year. Yes,the birth of Christ is quite important. But, his resurrection offers the hope of everlasting life to everyone! The Lenten season leading up to Easter Sunday is a time of fasting, sacrifice and prayer. It is the christian way of replicating in a small way what Christ sacrificed for us, both in his fasting and his final death on the cross.
Easter also also is celebrated with the Easter Bunny, colored eggs, jelly beans, and lots of chocolate. He (or she, as we are never quite sure about this) comes on Saturday night leading to Easter Sunday morning. He brings lots of chocolates and other candies. That’s one meaning to Easter, especially if you are a kid or a “Chocolaholic”.
There is a famous Easter game called the Easter Egg Hunt. Early morning kids go outside to find the many colored Easter eggs that the Easter bunny has hidden the night before. The Easter Egg Hunt was the first game ever invented. It is said that the reason this tradition started was because of the Easter Bunny dropped the eggs on the way to deliver them and they hide themselves. That is how the Easter Egg Hunt was supposedly invented. For more information see the Easter Egg Hunt page.
Most of us will celebrate both parts of this spring holiday. Upon awakening Easter Sunday morning, the children will hunt for the Easter basket left by the Easter Bunny. Then the family will dress in their finest new spring clothes, and go off to church to celebrate Christ’s resurrection. From there, the holiday tradition varies. Some have a big breakfast of brunch feast. Other family will have a big main meal with baked ham being the most common meat. Brightly colored hard boiled eggs will also be popular. It is not a day for high cholesterol diets. It is a day to feast as the long lenten season is over and Christ has arisen.
For more Easter fun and information on the history of easter and the history of the Christian season. Head over to the links page.
Easter Lilies are a popular flower and sign of Easter. They are great as gifts for mom or grandma, or to decorate your home or office. Garden stores and floral shops force the blooms to peak as Easter arrives, providing a splash of color to the early spring season. They are grown from bulbs, and can be transplanted into your home garden after the blooms have died off. Then, they will bloom in your flower garden every spring! More on growing and caring for Easter Lilies.
Setting the date: The date for Easter changes every year. It is the first Sunday after the full moon following the spring equinox.
Easter Thought to Ponder: The nice thing about being senile is, you can hide your own Easter eggs.
Make Your Own Holiday Day –
Make Your Own Holiday Day allows you to make today a special day for anything you want. The objective of today, is to allow one day for any topic or event that has otherwise escaped recognition… up to now.
We didn’t create this day. But, we are glad it’s here. It’s not easy, and it’s even more difficult to create a truly national day but it can be done!
Today, is your day to skip all of the red tape, bypass all of the effort, and create a special day of any kind. Simply declare your special day on Make Your Own Holiday Day!
Good Friday –
On Good Friday, Jesus Christ died on the cross. He died for us. But he only died in human form. He then arose from the dead on Easter Sunday morning to show us that there is life after death in heaven. Good Friday, also called “Dark Friday”, is a day of solemn prayer and the final day of fasting for the long lenten season.
Christ was nailed to the cross at noon. His death came at three o’clock in the afternoon. During this time, christians should spend in prayer and silence.
Did You Know? Good Friday is also called “Dark Friday”
National Waffle Day –
International Waffle Day
This holiday originated in Sweden. It is called Våffeldagen. The holiday coincides with the Feast of the Annunciation. This day was also considered the start of spring in Sweden and Europe. It became a custom for Swedish families to celebrate the two events by making waffles on this day.
National Waffle Day
Celebrates the patenting of the waffle iron by Cornelius Swarthout of Troy, New York on August 24, 1869.
The origin of the waffle: The waffle dates back to the 1300s in Greece. Greeks cooked flat cakes between two metal pans. At the time, they topped it with cheeses and herbs. Pancake syrup wasn’t around back then.
Waffles are commonly eaten as breakfast or a snack, but they are also amazing for dinner too!
National Chocolate Covered Raisin Day –
National Chocolate Covered Raisin Day is a day to enjoy this tasty combination of chocolate and fruit. Chocolate lovers who like raisins, find the combination simply irresistible. Kids find them irresistible, too.
Are you watching your waistline? National Chocolate Raisin Day will not help you here. You’re on your own.
Follow the Logic?: Chocolate is made from cocoa beans ( a vegetable) and raisins are from grapes (a fruit). And, we all know that vegetables and fruit are good for you. Therefore, aren’t chocolate covered raisins good for you?
National Chip and Dip Day –
National Chip and Dip Day celebrates America’s favourite snack duet. If you re holding a party, it is almost certain that chips and dip are on the snack list. The only possible exclusion would be for an Ice Cream party.
Important Note: National Potato Chip Day is on March 14th. For today’s celebration, the “chip” is more generic. It could be corn chips, or tortilla chips. And, the dip is any kind that goes well with the chip of choice.
Today is best celebrated in the evening with a bag of chips and your favourite dip.
National Goof Off Day –
Now here’s a day that just about everybody can relax and enjoy. It’s a day to do anything and everything…..except what you’re supposed to do today.
Assuming you won’t get in trouble at work or school, go ahead and play some golf, or play games all day. Spend extra time surfing the net. Go out and spend the day window shopping with your favourite friend. Or, just sit down and read a book or watch TV. This day is set aside for you to do anything you enjoy doing.
A few years ago, a survey was performed to identify the most popular activity for goofing off. The top activity was playing video games. Who conducted the survey? Ninetendo…….no surprise. It kinda makes you wonder just who might have had the brainstorm to create this day……hmmmm. Nowadays, the most popular Goof Off Day activity is likely playing games on the internet, or on our Smart Phones.
Extraterrestrial Abductions Day –
Extraterrestrial Abductions Day is today. Keep one eye on the sky. And, be ready to duck, dodge, and to hide. UFO’s may be everywhere, looking to abduct humans. If you are not careful, perhaps they will find you! Of course, there are more than a few people out there who are looking to be abducted by aliens, so they can travel to another planet.
Celebrate today by reading and watching science fiction stories about UFOs and Extraterrestrials. And, make sure to keep out of sight of extraterrestrials.